Welcome to The Home Equity Theft Reporter, a blog dedicated to informing the consumer public and the legal profession about Home Equity Theft issues. This blog will consist of information describing the various forms of Home Equity Theft and links to news reports & other informational sources from throughout the country about the victims of Home Equity Theft and what government authorities and others are doing about it.

Saturday, August 05, 2017

Connecticut Landlord, Real Estate Agent Each Cough Up $25K To Settle Fair Housing Allegations That They Rejected Prospective Tenant Based On Refusal To Accept Section 8 Housing Subsidy As Part Payment Of Rent In Violation Of State Law

In Danbury, Connecticut, The Connecticut Law Tribune reports:

The Connecticut Fair Housing Centernotched a $50,000 settlement against a landlord and a real estate agent accused of not allowing a tenant to pay some of her rent with a federal Housing Choice Voucher, also known as Section 8.

While the settlement finalized in late May stressed the agreement was made without admitting liability, housing law experts said the practice is common in the Nutmeg state. The woman in question was attempting to move into a Danbury townhouse apartment.

"I would say that, over the course of my 20-plus years as a legal services attorney, it is common knowledge among many legal aid attorneys that some landlords up-front refuse to take Section 8 as rent payments," said Jan Chiaretto, executive director of the Wethersfield-based Statewide Legal Services.

Chiaretto added that it's been illegal in Connecticut since 1990 to discriminate against someone because of the source of their rent.

"In some cases, some landlords do not know the law," said Chiaretto, who was not involved in the settlement. "A lot of it is ignorance and also the dislike of involvement with a government-backed voucher program. For some landlords, it might seem complicated and something they do not want to get involved with."

While it's not clear how many of the approximately 36,000 Connecticut residents who receive Section 8 have been denied housing illegally, Chiaretto noted: "Anecdotally, it seems to be a pervasive problem. It remains a barrier of access to decent affordable housing for low-income people. One rejection is one rejection too many."

Mediation in the case of prospective tenant Barbara Capri against Danbury property owner Barbara Blauvelt and real estate agent Alfred Surprenant failed. The parties finally reached a settlement after the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights & Opportunities began an investigation.

According to Capri's four-page complaint with the commission, she was looking to move into a South Street townhouse that was significantly newer and more updated than the home she was living in. The complaint claims Sarah Becker, a licensed real estate agent Capri hired, contacted Surprenant about the unit. "On May 23, 2016, Mr. Surprenant responded to Ms. Becker by telling her that tenants utilizing Section 8 vouchers would not be considered for the South Street unit."

Section 8 is a federal housing assistance program designed to make housing affordable for those whose income will not cover rent.

The CHRO complaint states that because of being denied the housing of her choice, Capri "suffered severe emotional distress, violation of her rights, and economic damages."

In legal papers, Blauvelt said she never discriminates against people using Section 8 and Surprenant said he couldn't remember Capri's case.

Surprenant and Blauvelt each paid Capri $25,000, for a total settlement award of $50,000. In addition, Surprenant was required to take a two-hour housing training course with the commission.

CBC News: Betrayal of Trust (A CBC investigation reveals how lawyers across Canada have misappropriated and mishandled clients money, to the tune of tens of millions of dollars, or sometimes even charging vulnerable people top dollar for shoddy services)

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